Public health staff warn of federal funding cuts and uncertainty; county budget holds staff funding and requests PRN nurse ad

Public health staff told the commissioners that federal and state funding for several public-health programs remains uncertain this fiscal year and urged the county to hold salaries at current levels while the state clarifies task orders.

Stephanie Harrington and Christy Nelson — the county public health staff present — reviewed the department’s revenue sources and program budgets. They said several task orders from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) are still pending because of changes in federal funding and agency reorganizations; the staff reported they had only one signed task order (the Immunization Task Force) and were waiting on FEP and other task orders. Staff said federal cuts to some programs (tobacco control nationally was referenced) are being managed at the state level but that local allocations and program activities could change rapidly.

Public health requested the county keep salaries at roughly $225,000 for the department and asked permission to advertise for a PRN (as-needed) nurse for up to 8 hours per week to support clinic needs, flu season and WIC activity. Commissioners discussed hourly pay ranges for PRN nurses (staff said market rates range roughly $35–$45 per hour) and agreed staff should prepare an advertisement and coordinate with county HR. Staff said many supply and training costs are federally or state funded and that some grant lines remain unclear (for example, tobacco funding and maternal/child health block grants), so the department took a conservative approach when preparing its budget.

Ending: Commissioners told public health staff to proceed with a PRN advertisement and held salaries at staff-requested levels pending clearer state task-order confirmations.